City Council candidate: 21 arrests do not disqualify me from holding office

Regina Hill, candidate for District 5 Orlando City Council (Provided to the Sentinel )

January 11, 2014|By Mark Schlueb, Orlando Sentinel

A candidate for Orlando City Council has a rap sheet that includes 21 arrests, records show.

Regina Hill, 48, said she has no plans to drop her political campaign for a council seat, despite a history of arrests for drug offenses, multiple DUIs and other charges. In fact, she said her checkered past makes her more qualified to represent District 5, which still struggles with high levels of crime, unemployment and homelessness.

"There is no better leader to be the voice of the people of District 5, because I've walked in their shoes," Hill said. "I've overcome those obstacles and I know what they go through."

Hill is trying to unseat four-term incumbent Daisy Lynum in the district that includes Parramore, Rock Lake, Lake Mann Estates, Malibu Groves and other parts of west Orlando. A third candidate, Cynthia Harris, also has filed papers to run in the April 8 election.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show that Hill began racking up arrests a week after she turned 18 in 1983. She was last arrested in 2009, on a contempt of court charge.

During that 26-year span, she was charged with an array of offenses. In 1989, at age 23, she was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell. Records show she received a four-month jail sentence and three years probation, with credit for time already served.

Hill also had six arrests for driving under the influence between 1997 and 2006.

Other arrests include passing bad checks in 1994, to which she pleaded no contest and was ordered to pay restitution; and marijuana possession in 2005, to which she pleaded no contest and was ordered to perform community service.

Florida is one of three states that strips those with felony convictions of the right to vote, serve on juries — or hold public office. Most of the charges Hill faced were misdemeanors, but two were felonies: the cocaine conviction and a 1995 fraud arrest for using a false name to obtain a driver's license.

State records show that Hill applied to have her civil rights restored, and the request was granted in 2008 by the Florida Parole Commission's Office of Executive Clemency. That cleared the way for her current City Council campaign.

Hill said she is working hard for her community, and that is how voters should judge her.

She is 2nd vice commander of Amvets Post 30 in west Orlando, where she works on homeless outreach, among other issues. She is also active with the Central Florida Urban League, addressing youth violence and other problems pervasive in District 5.

Hill said she helps seniors in her community, as well, driving them to doctor appointments and advocating for better health care and transportation.

"My work speaks for me, not my past. I'm doing great things in District 5, and the people who know me know that I am," Hill said. "This is nothing but a smear campaign."

Parramore resident Beverly Burgess said she's not concerned by Hill's trouble with the law.

"She's paid for the crimes in her past, and she wants to serve the people. She wants to bring resources down here," Burgess said. "Daisy Lynum is not serving the people."